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EDITHA'S    BURGLAR 


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W>ITHA  ©AMB  SfcOWLY  DOWN  THE     STAIKCASB  WITH  HBK  TREASURE 


EDITHA'S 
BURGLAR 

A  Story  for  Children 


IIJJ 


BY 
FRANCES   HODGSON    BURNETT 


Illustrated  by 
HENRY    SANDHAM 


I 


IS»fl 


BOSTON 

THE   PAGE   COMPANY 

PUBLISHERS 


Copyright,  1888 
By  Jordax,  Marsh  &  Co. 


Made  in  U.  S.  A. 


Eighteenth  Impression,  April,  1920 


THE   COLONIAL  PRESS 
C.   H.  SIMOXDS  CO.,  BOSTOX,  U.   S.  A. 


To  the  Memory 
of 

J82  iFatfjer 


- 


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{Written  by  Elsie  Leslie  Lyde,  the  original  Edit  ha, 
eight  years  old.) 


ILLUSTRATIONS. 


»      ■ 

PAGE 

"Editha  came  slowly  down  the  staircase  with 

her  treasures  "  .         .         .         .         .  Frontispiece 

"  She  spent   most   of   her   time    in   the    library 

reading  her  papa's  big  books  "  .        .13 

"Through  the  newspapers  she  found  there 
were  men  who  lived  by  breaking  into  peo- 
ple's houses" 17 

"  inever  mind  about  the  burglars,  nlxie  ' "       .       21 

"«ThE    BURGLARS,    MISS,    THAT    BROKE    INTO    NUMBER 

EIGHTEEN    LAST    NIGHT  '" 25 

"'Kitty,'  he  said,  «I  am  obliged  to  go  to  Glas- 

•  gow  '"    .         .         .         . 29 

"'Don't  be  frightened,'  she  said,  «I  don't  want 

to  hurt  you  '  " 33 

"  he  laughed  so  hard,  that  he  doubled  up "     .       37 
" «  It's  curious  that  you  should  know  just  where 

to  look  for  things,'  said  editha  "  43 

" «  to  think  o'  me   forgettin'  my  card-case,'  he 

said" 47 

"He  threw  his  head  very  far  back,  which  was 

vulgar" 53 

"  *  to  think  of  her  risking  her  dear  little  life 

TO    SAVE    me!"' 57 

"  The  burglar  brought  from  under  his  mattreis 

a  box,  which  he  handed  to  the  little  girl  "      61 


EDITHA'S     BURGLAR. 


I  WILL  begin  by  saying  that  Editha  was 
always  rather  a  queer  little  girl,  and  not 
much  like  other  children.  She  was  not  a 
strong,  healthy  little  girl,  and  had  never  been 
able  to  run  about  and  play;  and,  as  she  had 
no  sisters,  or  brothers,  or  companions  of  her 
own  size,  she  was  rather  old-fashioned,  as  her 
aunts  used  to  call  it.  She  had  always  been 
very  fond  of  books,  and  had  learned  to  read 
when  she  was  such  a  tiny  child,  that  I  should 
almost  be  afraid  to  say  how  tiny  she  was  when 
she  read  her  first  volume  through.  Her  papa 
wrote  books  himself,  and  was  also  the  editor  of 
a  newspaper;  and,  as  he  had  a  large  library, 
Editha  perhaps  read  more  than  was  quite  good 
for  her.      She  lived   in   London ;   and,  as  her 

u 


12  EDITH  A' S  BUBGLAB. 

mamma  was  very  young  and  pretty,  and  went 
out  a  great  deal,  and  her  papa  was  so  busy,  and 
her  governess  only  came  in  the  morning,  she 
was  left  to  herself  a  good  many  hours  in  the 
day,  and  when  she  was  left  to  herself,  she  spent 
the  greater  part  of  her  time  in  the  library  reading 
her  papa's  big  books,  and  even  his  newspapers. 

She  was  very  fond  of  the  newspapers,  because 
she  found  so  many  curious  things  in  them, — 
stories,  for  instance,  of  strange  events  which 
happened  every  day  in  the  great  city  of  London, 
and  yet  never  seemed  to  happen  anywhere  near 
where  she  lived.  Through  the  newspapers,  she 
found  that  there  were  actually  men  who  lived 
by  breaking  into  peoples'  houses  and  stealing  all 
the  nice  things  they  could  carry  away,  and  she 
read  that  such  men  were  called  burglars.  When 
she  first  began  to  read  about  burglars,  she  was 
very  much  troubled.  In  the  first  place,  she  felt 
rather  timid  about  going  to  bed  at  night,  and, 
in  the  second  place,  she  felt  rather  sorry  for  the 
burglars. 

"  I  suppose  no  one  ever  taught  them  any 
better,"  she  thought. 


S€»ENT   MOST   OF   HER   TIME   IN    THE   LIBRARY   READIST©  BEk 
PAPA'S  BIG  BOOKS. 


EDITHA'S  BURGLAR.  16 

In  fact,  she  thought  so  much  about  tke 
matter  that  she  could  not  help  asking  her  papa 
some  questions  one  morning  when  he  was  at 
breakfast.  He  was  reading  his  paper  and  eat- 
ing his  chops  both  at  once  when  she  spoke  to 
him. 

"Papa/'  she  said,  in  a  solemn  little  voice, 
and  looking  at  him  in  a  very  solemn  manner, 
"papa  dear,  what  do  you  think  of  burglars, — <■ 
as  a  class  ? "  (She  said  "  as  a  class,"  because 
she  had  heard  one  of  her  papa's  friends  say  it, 
and  as  he  was  a  gentleman  she  admired  very 
much,  she  liked  to  talk  as  he  did.)  Her  papa 
gave  a  little  jump  in  his  chair,  as  if  she  had 
startled  him,  and  then  he  pushed  his  hair  off 
his  forehead  and  stared  at  her. 

"  Burglars  !  As  a  class !  "  he  said,  and  then 
he  stared  at  her  a  minute  again  in  rather  a 
puzzled  way.  "  Bless  my  soul !  "  he  said.  "  As 
a  class,  Nixie ! "  (That  was  his  queer  pet  name 
for  her.)     "  Nixie,  where  is  your  mother  ?  " 

"  She  is  in  bed,  papa  dear,  and  we  mustn't 
disturb  her,"  said  Editha.  "The  party  last 
laight  tired  her  out.     I  peeped  into  her  room 


16  EDITHA'S  BURGLAR. 

softly  as  I  came  down.  She  looks  so  pretty 
when  she  is  asleep.  What  do  you  think  of 
burglars,  papa  ?  " 

"I  think  they're  a  bad  lot,  Nixie,"  said  her 
papa,  "a  bad  lot." 

"  Are  there  no  good  burglars,  papa  ?  " 

"  Well,  Nixie,"  answered  papa,  "  I  should  say 
not.  As  a  rule,  you  know," — and  here  he  began 
to  smile,  as  people  often  smiled  at  Editha  when 
she  asked  questions,  —  "as  a  rule,  burglars  are 
not  distinguished  for  moral  perspicuity  and 
blameless  character." 

But  Editha  did  not  understand  what  moral 
perspicuity  meant,  and  besides,  she  was  thinking 
again. 

"  Miss  Lane  was  talking  to  me  the  other  day, 
about  some  poor  children  who  had  never  been 
taught  anything ;  they  had  never  had  any 
French  or  music  lessons,  and  scarcely  knew 
how  to  read,  and  she  said  they  had  never  had 
any  advantages.  Perhaps  that  is  the  way  with 
the  burglars,  papa,  —  perhaps  they  have  never 
had  any  advantages,  —  perhaps  if  they  had  had 
advantages  they  mightn't  have  been  burglars." 


THROUGH  THE  NEWSPAPERS  SHE  FOUND  THERE   "WERE  MEN   "WHO 
LIVED  BY  BREAKING  INTO    PEOPLE'S    HOUSES. 


EDITHA' 8  BURGLAR.  19 

"Lessons  in  French  and  music  are  very  ele- 
vating to  the  mind,  my  dear  Nixie/'  papa  began, 
in  his  laughing  way,  which  was  always  a  trial 
to  Editha,  but  suddenly  he  stopped,  and  looked 
at  her  rather  sadly. 

"  How  old  are  you,  Nixie  ?  " 

"I  am  seven,"  answered  Editha,  "seven 
years,  going  on  eight." 

Papa  sighed. 

"Come  here,  little  one,"  he  said,  holding  out 
his  strong  white  hand  to  her. 

She  left  her  chair  and  went  to  him,  and  he 
put  his  arms  around  her,  and  kissed  her,  and 
stroked  her  long  brown  hair. 

"  Don't  puzzle  your  little  brain  too  much,"  he 
said ;  "  never  mind  about  the  burglars,  Nixie." 

"  Well,"  said  Editha,  "  I  can't  help  thinking 
about  them  a  little,  and  it  seems  to  me  that 
there  must  be,  perhaps,  one  good  burglar  among 
all  the  bad  ones,  and  I  can't  help  being  rather 
sorry  for  the  bad  ones.  You  see,  they  must 
have  to  be  up  all  night,  and  out  in  the  rain 
sometimes,  and  they  can't  help  not  having  had 
advantages." 


20  EDITH A'S  BUBGLAB. 

It  was  strange  that  the  first  thing  she  heard, 
when  she  went  up  to  her  mamma's  room,  was 
something  about  burglars. 

She  was  very,  very  fond  of  her  mamma,  and 
very  proud  of  her.  She  even  tried  to  take  care 
of  her  in  her  small  way ;  she  never  disturbed 
her  when  she  was  asleep,  and  she  always  helped 
her  to  dress,  bringing  her  things  to  her,  button- 
ing her  little  shoes  and  gloves,  putting  the  per- 
fume on  her  handkerchiefs,  and  holding  her 
wraps  until  she  wanted  them. 

This  morning,  when  she  went  into  the  dress- 
ing-room, she  found  the  chambermaid  there  be- 
fore her,  and  her  dear  little  mamma  looking 
very  pale. 

"Ah,  mem!  if  you  please,  mem!"  the  chamber- 
maid was  saying,  "what  a  blessing  it  was  they 
didn't  come  here  !  " 

"  Who,  Janet  ?  "  Editha  asked. 

"  The  burglars,  miss,  that  broke  into  Number 
Eighteen  last  night,  and  carried  off  all  the 
silver,  and  the  missus's  jewelry." 

"If  burglars  ever  do  break  in  here,"  said 
mamma,  "  I  hope  none  of  us  will  hear  them, 


NEVEK   MIND   ABOUT   THE   BURGLARS     NIXIES* 


EDITH  A' S   BURGLAB.  25 

though  it  would  almost  break  my  heart  to  have 
my  things  taken.  If  I  should  waken  in  the 
night,  and  find  a  burglar  in  my  room,  I  think  it 
would  kill  me,  and  I  know  I  should  scream, 
and  then  there  is  no  knowing  what  they  might 
do.  If  ever  you  think  there  is  a  burglar  in  the 
house,  Nixie,  whatever  you  do,  don't  scream 
or  make  any  noise.  It  would  be  better  to 
have  one's  things  stolen,  than  to  be  killed  by 
burglars  for  screaming.', 

She  was  not  a  very  wise  little  mamma,  and 
often  said  rather  thoughtless  things ;  but  she 
was  very  gentle  and  loving,  and  Editha  was  so 
fond  of  her  that  she  put  her  arms  around  her 
waist  and  said  to  her  : 

"  Mamma,  dearest,  I  will  never  let  any  burg- 
lars hurt  you  or  frighten  you  if  I  can  help  it. 
I  do  believe  I  could  persuade  them  not  to.  I 
should  think  even  a  burglar  would  listen  to 
reason." 

That  made  her  mamma  laugh,  so  that  she 
forgot  all  about  the  burglars  and  began  to  get 
her  colour  again,  and  it  was  not  long  before  she 
was  quite  gay,  and  was  singing  a  song  she  had 


24  EDITHA' S  BURGLAR. 

heard  at  the  opera,  while  Editha  was  helping 
her  to  dress. 

But  that  very  night  Editha  met  a  burglar. 

Just  before  dinner,  her  papa  came  up  from 
the  city  in  a  great  hurry.  He  dashed  up  to  the 
front  door  in  a  cab,  and,  jumping  out,  ran  up- 
stairs to  mamma,  who  was  sitting  in  the  draw- 
ing-room, while  Editha  read  aloud  to  her. 

"  Kitty,  my  dear,"  he  said,  "  I  am  obliged  to 
go  to  Glasgow  by  the  '  five '  train.  I  must 
throw  a  few  things  into  a  portmanteau  and  go 
at  once." 

"  Oh,  Francis  !  "  said  mamma.  "  And  just 
after  that  burglary  at  the  Norris's !  I  don't 
like  to  be  left  alone." 

"  The  servants  are  here,"  said  papa,  "  and 
Nixie  will  take  care  of  you,  won't  you,  Nixie? 
Nixie  is  interested  in  burglars." 

"  I  am  sure  Nixie  could  do  more  than  the 
servants,"  said  mamma.  "  All  three  of  them 
sleep  in  one  room  at  the  top  of  the  house  when 
you  are  away,  and  even  if  they  awakened  they 
would  only  scream." 

"Nixie  wouldn't  scream,"  said  papa,  laugh- 


BURGLARS,    MISS.    THAT   BROKE   INTO   NUMBER   EIGHTEHK 

LAST  NIGHT." 


EDITHA'S  BURGLAR.  27 

ing ;  "  Nixie  would  do  something  heroic.  I 
will  leave  you  in  her  hands.'' 

He  was  only  joking,  but  Editha  did  not  think 
of  what  he  said  as  a  joke;  she  felt  that  her 
mamma  was  really  left  in  her  care,  and  that  it 
was  a  very  serious  matter. 

She  thought  about  it  so  seriously  that  she 
hardly  talked  at  all  at  dinner,  and  was  so  quiet 
afterward  that  her  mamma  said,  "Dear  me, 
Nixie,  what  are  you  thinking  of  ?  You  look  as 
solemn  as  a  little  owl." 

"I  am  thinking  of  you,  mamma,"  the  child 
answered. 

And  then  her  mamma  laughed  and  kissed 
her,  and  said:  "Well,  I  must  say  I  don't  see 
why  you  should  look  so  grave  about  me.  I 
didn't  think  I  was  such  a  solemn  subject." 

At  last  bedtime  came,  and  the  little  girl  went 
to  her  mother's  room,  because  she  was  to  sleep 
there. 

"  I  am  glad  I  have  you  with  me,  Nixie,"  said 
mamma,  with  a  rather  nervous  little  laugh.  "  I 
am  sure  I  shouldn't  like  to  sleep  in  this  big 
room  alone." 


28  EDITH  A' S  BURGLAR. 

But,  after  she  was  in  bed,  she  soon  fell  asleep, 
and  lay  looking  so  happy  and  sweet  and  com- 
fortable that  Editha  thought  it  was  lovely  to 
see  her. 

Editha  did  not  go  to  sleep  for  a  long  time. 
She  thought  of  her  papa  trying  to  sleep  on  the 
train,  rushing  through  the  dark  night  on  its 
way  to  Scotland;  she  thought  of  a  new  book 
she  had  just  begun  to  read;  she  thought  of  a 
child  she  had  once  heard  singing  in  the  street; 
and  when  her  eyes  closed  at  length,  her  mind 
had  just  gone  back  to  the  burglars  at  Number 
Eighteen.  She  slept  until  midnight,  and  then 
something  awakened  her.  At  first  she  did  not 
know  what  it  was,  but  in  a  few  minutes  she 
found  that  it  was  a  queer  little  sound  coming 
from  down-stairs,  —  a  sound  like  a  stealthy 
filing  of  iron. 

She  understood  in  a  moment  then,  because 
she  had  heard  the  chambermaid  say  that  the 
burglars  broke  into  Number  Eighteen  by  filing 
through  the  bars  of  the  shutters. 

"  It  is  a  burglar,"  she  thought,  "  and  he  will 
awaken  mamma." 


KITTY,"  HE  SAIL),    "I  AM  OBIilGJJiD  TO  GO  TO  GLASGOW,  < 


EDITH  A' 8  BUBGLAB.  31 

If  she  had  been  older,  and  had  known  more 
of  the  habits  of  burglars,  she  might  have  been 
more  frightened  than  she  was.  She  did  not 
think  of  herself  at  all,  however,  but  of  her 
mother. 

She  began  to  reason  the  matter  over  as 
quickly  as  possible,  and  she  made  up  her  mind 
that  the  burglar  must  not  be  allowed  to  make  a 
noise. 

"I'll  go  down  and  ask  him  to  please  be  as 
quiet  as  he  can,"  she  said  to  herself,  "  and  I'll 
tell  him  why." 

Certainly,  this  was  a  queer  thing  to  think  of 
doing,  but  I  told  you  when  I  began  my  story 
that  she  was  a  queer  little  girl. 

She  slipped  out  of  bed  so  quietly  that  she 
scarcely  stirred  the  clothes,  and  then  slipped 
just  as  quietly  out  of  the  room  and  down  the 
stairs. 

The  filing  had  ceased,  but  she  heard  a  sound 
of  stealthy  feet  in  the  kitchen ;  and,  though  it 
must  be  confessed  her  heart  beat  rather  faster 
than  usual,  she  made  her  way  to  the  kitchen 
and  opened  the  door. 


32  EDITHA' 8  BUBGLAB. 

Imagine  the  astonishment  of  that  burglar 
when,  on  hearing  the  door  open,  he  turned 
around  and  found  himself  looking  at  a  slender 
little  girl,  in  a  white  frilled  nightgown,  and 
with  bare  feet,  —  a  little  girl  whose  large  brown 
eyes  rested  on  him  in  a  by  no  means  unfriendly 
way. 

"I'll  be  polite  to  him,"  Editha  had  said,  as 
she  was  coming  down-stairs.  "I  am  sure  he'll 
be  more  obliging  if  I  am  very  polite.  Miss  Lane 
says  politeness  always  wins  its  way." 

So  the  first  words  she  spoke  were  as  polite  as 
she  could  make  them. 

"Don't  be  frightened,"  she  said,  in  a  soft 
voice.  "I  don't  want  to  hurt  you;  I  came  to 
ask  a  favour  of  you." 

The  burglar  was  so  amazed  that  he  actually 
forgot  he  was  a  burglar,  and  staggered  back 
against  the  wall.  I  think  he  thought  at  first 
that  Editha  was  a  little  ghost.  "  You  see  I 
couldn't  hurt  you  if  I  wanted  to,"  she  went  on, 
wishing  to  encourage  him.  "I'm  too  little. 
I'm  only  seven, — and  a  little  over,  —  and  I'm 
not  going  to  scream,  because  that  would  awaken 


DON'T  BE  FRIGHTJE-N&D,"    faiihi  fc>A!D0    "I  DON'T  WANT    TO  HURT  YOU." 


EDITH  A' 8  BURGLAR.  36 

mamma,  and  that's  just  what  I  don't  want  to 
do." 

That  did  encourage  the  burglar,  but  still  he 
was  so  astonished  that  he  did  not  know  what  to 
do. 

"  Well,  I'm  blowed,"  he  said  in  a  whisper,  "  if 
this  ain't  a  rummy  go ! "  which  was  extremely 
vulgar  language ;  but,  unfortunately,  he  was  one 
of  those  burglars  who,  as  Miss  Lane  said,  "  had 
not  had  any  advantages,"  which  is  indeed  the 
case  with  the  majority  of  the  burglars  of  my 
acquaintance. 

Then  he  began  to  laugh,  —  in  a  whisper  also, 
if  one  can  be  said  to  laugh  in  a  whisper.  He 
put  his  hand  over  his  mouth,  and  made  no 
noise,  but  he  laughed  so  hard  that  he  doubled 
up  and  rocked  himself  to  and  fro. 

"The  rummiest  go!"  he  said,  in  his  un- 
educated way.  "  An'  she  hain't  a-goin'  to  'urt 
me.     Oh,  my  heye !  " 

He  was  evidently  very  badly  educated,  indeed, 
for  he  not  only  used  singular  words,  but  sounded 
his  h's  all  in  the  wrong  places.  Editha  noticed 
this,  even  in  the  midst  of  her  surprise  at  his 


30  EDITS  A' S  BURGLAR. 

laughter.  She  could  not  understand  what  he 
was  laughing  at.  Then  it  occurred  to  her  that 
she  might  have  made  a  mistake. 

"  If  you  please/'  she  said,  with  great  delicacy, 
"  are  you  really  a  burglar  ?  " 

He  stopped  laughing  just  long  enough  to 
answer  her 

"Lor'  no.  miss,"  he  said,  "by  no  manner  o' 
means.  I'm  a  dear  friend  o'  yer  par's,  come  to 
make  a  evenin'  call,  an',  not  a-wishin'  to  trouble 
the  servants,  I  stepped  in  through  the  winder." 

"  Ah ! "  said  Editha,  looking  very  gravely  at 
him;  "I  see  you  are  joking  with  me,  as  papa 
does  sometimes.  But  what  I  wanted  to  say  to 
you  was  this :  papa  has  gone  to  Scotland,  and 
all  our  servants  are  women,  and  mamma  would 
be  so  frightened  if  you  were  to  awaken  her,  that 
I  am  sure  it  would  make  her  ill.  And  if  you 
are  going  to  burgle,  would  y  vl  please  burgle  as 
quietly  as  you  can,  so  that  you  won't  disturb 
her?" 

The  burglar  stopped  laughing,  and,  staring  at 
her,  once  more  uttered  his  vulgar  exclamation : 

"Well,  I'll  be  blowed!" 


"HE  LAUGHED  SO  HARD  THAT  HE  DOUBLED  UP. 


EDITHA*  S  BUBGLAM.  88 

"  Why  don't  you  say  <  I'll  be  blown  ? '  "  asked 
Editha.  "  I'm  sure  it  isn't  correct  to  say  you'll 
be  bio  wed." 

She  thought  he  was  going  off  into  one  of  his 
unaccountable  fits  of  laughter  again,  but  he  did 
not ;  he  seemed  to  check  himself  with  an  effort. 

"There  hain't  no  time  to  waste/'  she  heard 
him  mutter. 

"No,  I  suppose  there  isn't,"  she  answered. 
"  Mamma  might  wake  and  miss  me.  What  are 
you  going  to  burgle  first  ?  " 

"You'd  better  go  up-stairs  to  yer  mar,"  he 
said,  rather  sulkily. 

Editha  thought  deeply  for  a  few  seconds. 

"  You  oughtn't  to  burgle  anything,"  she  said. 
"  Of  course  you  know  that,  but  if  you  have 
really  made  up  your  mind  to  do  it,  I  would 
like  to  show  you  the  things  you'd  better  take." 

"  What,  fer  instance  ?  "  said  the  burglar,  with 
interest. 

"  You  mustn't  take  any  of  mamma's  things," 
said  Editha,  "  because  they  are  all  in  her  room, 
and  you  would  awaken  her,  and  besides,  she  said 
it  would  break  her  heart;  and  don't  take  any 


40  EDITH  A' &  BTJBGLAB. 

of  the  things  papa  is  fond  of.  I'll  tell  you 
what/'  turning  rather  pale,  "  you  can  take  my 
things." 

"  What  kind  o'  things  ?  "  asked  the  burglar. 
*-"My  locket,  and  the  little  watch  papa  gave 
me,  and  the  necklace  and  bracelets  my  grand- 
mamma left  me,  —  they  are  worth  a  great  deal 
of  money,  and  they  are  very  pretty,  and  I  was 
to  wear  them  when  I  grew  to  be  a  young  lady, 
but  —  you  can  take  them .  And — then ' '  —  very 
slowly,  and  with  a  deep  sigh,  —  "there  are  — 
my  books.     I'm  very  fond  of  them,  but  —  " 

"  I  don't  want  no  books,"  said  the  burglar. 

"  Don't  you  ?  "  exclaimed  she.  "  Ah,  thank 
you." 

"  Well,"  said  the  burglar,  as  if  to  himself,  and 
staring  hard  at  her  brightening  face,  "I  never 
see  no  sich  a  start  afore." 

"Shall  I  go  up -stairs  and  get  the  other 
things?"  said  Editha. 

"  No,"  he  said.  "  You  stay  where  you  are, — 
or  stay,  come  along  o'  me  inter  the  pantry,  an' 
sit  down  while  I'm  occypied." 

He  led  the  way  into  the  pantry,  and  pushed 


EDITH  A' S  BUBGLAB.  41 

her  down  on  a  step,  and  then  began  to  open 
the  drawers  where  the  silver  was  kept. 

"  It's  curious  that  you  should  know  just  where 
to  look  for  things,  and  that  your  key  should  fit, 
isn't  it?"  said  Editha. 

"Yes,"  he  answered,  "it's  werry  sing'lar, 
indeed.     There's  a  good  deal  in  bein'  eddicated." 

"Are  you  educated?"  asked  Editha,  with  a 
look  of  surprise. 

"  Did  yer  think  I  wasn't  ?  "  said  the  burglar. 

"Well,"  said  Editha,  not  wishing  to  offend 
him,  "  you  see,  you  pronounce  your  words  so 
very  strangely." 

"It's  all  a  matter  o'  taste,"  interrupted  the 
burglar.  "  Oxford  an'  Cambridge  'as  different 
vocabularies." 

"Did  you  go  to  Oxford?"  asked  Editha, 
politely. 

"  No,"  said  he,  "  nor  yet  to  Cambridge." 

Then  he  laughed  again,  and  seemed  to  be 
quite  enjoying  himself  as  he  made  some  forks 
and  spoons  up  into  a  bundle.  "I  'ope  there 
hain't  no  plated  stuff  'ere,"  he  said.  "  Plate's 
wulgar,  an'  I  'ope  yer  parents  hain't  wulgar, 


42  EDITH  A' S  BURGLAR. 

'cos  tbat'd  be  settin'  yer  a  werry  bad  example, 
an'  sp'ilin'  yer  morals." 

' ( 1  am  sure  papa  and  mamma  are  not  vulgar, ' ' 
said  Editba. 

Tbe  burglar  opened  anotber  drawer,  and 
cbuckled  again,  and  tbis  suggested  to  Editba 's 
mind  anotber  question. 

"  Is  your  business  a  good  one?  -'  sbe  suddenly 
inquired  of  bim. 

"  'Tain't  as  good  as  it  ougbt  to  be,  by  no  man- 
ner o'  means,"  said  tbe  burglar.  "  Every  one 
bain't  as  bobligin'  as  you,  my  little  dear." 

"  Ob!  "  said  Editba.  "  You  know  you  obliged 
me  by  not  making  a  noise. ' ' 

' '  Well, ' '  said  tbe  burglar, "  as  a  rule,  we  don  ?t 
make  a  practice  o'  makin'  no  more  noise  tban 
we  can  belp.  It  bain't  considered  'ealtby  in 
tbe  perfession." 

1 1  Would  you  mind  leaving  us  a  few  forks  and 
spoons  to  eat  witb, if  you  please!  I  beg  pardon 
for  interrupting  you,  but  I  'm  afraid  we  sball  not 
bave  any  to  use  at  breakfast." 

"  Hain't  yer  got  no  steel  uns?  "  inquired  tbe 
burglar. 


it's  curious  that  you  should  know  just  where  to 
look  for  things,"  said  editha. 


EDITH  A' S  BURGLAR.  45 

"  Mamma  wouldn't  like  to  use  steel  ones,  I'm 
sure/'  Eclitha  answered.  "I'll  tell  you  what 
you  can  do  :  please  leave  out  enough  for  mamma, 
and  I  can  use  steel.  I  don't  care  about  myself, 
much." 

The  man  seemed  to  think  a  moment,  and  then 
he  was  really  so  accommodating  as  to  do  as  she 
asked,  and  even  went  to  the  length  of  leaving 
out  her  own  little  fork  and  knife  and  spoon. 

"  Oh,  you  are  very  kind !  "  said  Editha,  when 
she  saw  him  do  this. 

"  That's  a  reward  o'  merit,  'cos  yer  didn't 
squeal,"  said  the  burglar. 

He  was  so  busy  for  the  next  few  minutes  that 
he  did  not  speak,  though  now  and  then  he  broke 
into  a  low  laugh,  as  if  he  was  thinking  of  some- 
thing very  funny,  indeed.  During  the  silence, 
Editha  sat  holding  her  little  feet  in  her  night- 
gown, and  watching  him  very  curiously.  A 
great  many  new  thoughts  came  into  her  active 
brain,  and  at  last  she  could  not  help  asking  some 
more  questions. 

"Would  you  really  rather  be  a  burglar  than 
anything  else  ? ,;  she  inquired,  respectfully. 


46  EDITH A'S    BURGLAR. 

"Well,"  said  the  man,  "  p'r'aps  I'a  prefer  to 
be  Lord  Mayor,  or  a  member  o'  the  'ouse  o' 
Lords,  or  heven  the  Prince  o'  Wales,  honly  for 
there  bein'  hobstacles  in  the  way  of  it." 

"Oh!"  said  Editha;  "you  couldn't  be  the 
Prince  of  Wales,  you  know.  I  mean  wouldn't 
you  rather  be  in  some  other  profession  ?  My 
papa  is  an  editor,"  she  added.  "  How  would 
you  like  to  be  an  editor  ? " 

"Well,"  said  the  burglar,  "hif  yer  par  ud 
change  with  me,  or  hif  he  chanced  to  know 
hany  heditor  with  a  roarin'  trade  as  ud  be  so 
hobligin'  as  to  'and  it  hover,  hit's  wot  I've  allers 
'ad  a  leanin'  to." 

"  I  am  sure  papa  would  not  like  to  be  a  burg- 
lar," said  Editha,  thoughtfully  ;  "  but  perhaps 
he  might  speak  to  his  friends  about  you,  if  you 
would  give  me  your  name  and  address,  and  if  I 
were  to  tell  him  how  obliging  you  were,  and  if 
I  told  him  you  really  didn't  like  being  a  burglar." 

The  burglar  put  his  hand  to  his  pocket  and 
gave  a  start  of  great  surprise. 

"  To  think  o'  me  a-forgettin'  my  card-case," 
he  said,  "  an'  a-leavin'  it  on  the  pianner  when  I 


"VO  THINK  O*   MB  A  FORGETTIN'   MY  CARD  OASB,"   HE  SAID. 


EDITHA' S  BURGLAR.  49 

come  hout.  I'm  sich  a  bloomin'  forgetful  cove. 
I  might  hev  knowed  I'd  hev  wanted  it." 

"  It  is  a  pity/'  said  Editha ;  "  but  if  you  told 
me  your  name  and  your  number,  I  think  I  could 
remember  it." 

"  I'm  afeared  yer  couldn't/'  said  the  burglar, 
regretfully,  "  but  I'll  try  yer.  Lord  Halgernon 
Hedward  Halbert  de  Pentonwille,  'yde  Park. 
Can  you  think  o'  that  ? " 

"  Are  you  a  lord  ?  "  exclaimed  Editha.  "  Dear 
me,  how  strange  !  " 

"  It  is  sing'lar,"  said  the  burglar,  shaking  his 
head.  "  I've  hoften  thought  so  myself.  But 
not  wishin'  to  detain  a  lady  no  longer  than  can 
be  'elped,  s'pose  we  take  a  turn  in  the  lib'ery 
among  yer  respected  par's  things." 

"  Don't  make  a  noise,"  said  Editha,  as  she  led 
the  way. 

But  when  they  reached  the  library  her  loving 
little  heart  failed  her.  All  the  things  her  fa- 
ther valued  most  were  there,  and  he  would  be 
sure  to  be  so  sorry  if  one  thing  was  missing 
when  he  returned.  She  stood  on  the  threshold 
a  moment  and  looked  about  her. 


50  EDITH A*  8  BUBGLAE. 

"  Oh,"  she  whispered,  "please  do  me  another 
favour,  won't  you  ?  Please  let  me  slip  quietly 
up-stairs  and  bring  down  my  own  things  in- 
stead. They  will  be  so  easy  to  carry  away, 
and  they  are  very  valuable,  and  —  and  I  will 
make  you  a  present  of  them  if  you  will  not 
touch  anything  that  belongs  to  papa.  He  is 
so  fond  of  his  things,  and,  besides  that,  he 
is  so  good." 

The  burglar  gave  a  rather  strange  and  dis- 
turbed look  at  her. 

"  Go  an'  get  yer  gimcracks,"  he  said,  in  a 
somewhat  grumbling  voice. 

Her  treasures  were  in  her  own  room,  and  her 
bare  feet  made  no  sound  as  she  crept  slowly  up 
the  staircase  and  then  down  again.  But  when 
she  handed  the  little  box  to  the  burglar  her  eyes 
were  wet. 

"  Papa  gave  me  the  watch,  and  mamma  gave 
me  the  locket,"  she  whispered,  tremulously ; 
"  and  the  pearls  were  grandmamma's,  and  grand- 
mamma is  in  heaven." 

It  would  not  be  easy  to  know  what  the  burg- 
lar thought ;  he  looked  queerer  than  ever.     Per- 


EDITBA'S  BTIBGLAU.  51 

haps  lie  was  not  quite  so  bad  as  some  burglars, 
and  felt  rather  ashamed  of  taking  her  treasures 
from  a  little  girl  who  loved  other  people  so 
much  better  than  she  loved  herself.  But  he 
did  not  touch  any  of  papa's  belongings,  and, 
indeed,  did  not  remain  much  longer.  He  grum- 
bled a  little  when  he  looked  into  the  drawing- 
room,  saying  something  to  himself  about  "  folks 
never  'avin'  no  consideration  for  a  cove,  an' 
leavin'  nothin'  portable  'andy,  a-expectin'  of  him 
to  carry  off  seventy-five  pound  bronze  clocks 
an'  marble  stattoos ; "  but  though  Editha  was 
sorry  to  see  that  he  appeared  annoyed,  she  did 
not  understand  him. 

After  that,  he  returned  to  the  pantry  and 
helped  himself  to  some  cold  game  pie,  and 
seemed  to  enjoy  it,  and  then  poured  out  a 
tumbler  of  wine,  which  Editha  thought  a  great 
deal  to  drink  at  once. 

"  Yer  'e'lth,  my  dear,"  he  said,  "  an'  'appy  re- 
turns, an'  many  on  'em.  May  yer  grow  up  a 
hornyment  to  yer  sect,  an'  a  comfort  to  yer 
respected  mar  an'  par." 

And  he  threw  his  head  very  far  back,  and 


52  EDITBA'S  BUBGLAB. 

drank  the  very  last  drop  in  the  glass,  which 
was  vulgar,  to  say  the  least  of  it. 

Then  he  took  up  his  bundles  of  silver  and  the 
other  articles  he  had  appropriated,  and,  seeing 
that  he  was  going  away,  Editha  rose  from  the 
pantry  step. 

"  Are  you  going  out  through  the  window  ?  " 
she  asked. 

"  Yes,,  my  dear,"  he  answered,  with  a  chuckle, 
"  it's  a  little  'abit  I've  got  into.  I  prefers  'em 
to  doors." 

"Well,  good-bye,"  she  said,  holding  out  her 
hand  politely.     "  And  thank  you,  my  lord." 

She  felt  it  only  respectable  to  say  that,  even 
if  he  had  fallen  into  bad  habits  and  become  a 
burglar. 

He  shook  hands  with  her  in  quite  a  friendly 
manner,  and  even  made  a  bow. 

"  Yer  welcome,  my  dear,"  he  said.  "  An'  I 
must  hadd  that  if  I  ever  see  a  queerer  or  better- 
behaved  little  kid,  may  I  be  bio  wed,  —  or,  as 
yer  told  me  it  would  be  more  correcter  to  say, 
I'll  be  blown." 

Editha   did   not   know  he  was   joking;   she 


«E  THREW   HIS   HEAD   VERY   FAR  BACK,    WHICH    WAS   VULGAR. 


EDITH  A' S  BUBGLAR.  55 

thought  he  was  improving,  and  that  if  he  had 
had  advantages  he  might  have  been  a  very  nice 
man. 

It  was  astonishing  how  neatly  he  slipped 
through  the  window ;  he  was  gone  in  a  second, 
and  Editha  found  herself  standing  alone  in  the 
dark,  as  he  had  taken  his  lantern  with  him. 

She  groped  her  way  out  and  up  the  stairs, 
and  then,  for  the  first  time,  she  began  to  feel 
cold,  and  rather  weak  and  strange  ;  it  was  more 
like  being  frightened  than  any  feeling  she  had 
had  while  the  burglar  was  in  the  house. 

"  Perhaps,  if  he  had  been  a  very  bad  burglar, 
he  might  have  killed  me,"  she  said  to  herself, 
trembling  a  little.  "  I  am  very  glad  he  did  not 
kill  me,  for — for  it  would  have  hurt  mamma  so, 
and  papa,  too,  when  he  came  back,  and  they 
told  him." 

Her  mamma  awakened  in  the  morning  with  a 
bright  smile. 

"  Nobody  hurt  us,  Nixie,"  she  said.  "  We  are 
all  right,  aren't  we?" 

"  Yes,  mamma  dear,"  said  Editha. 

She  did  not  want  to  startle  her  just  then,  so 


56  EDITH  A' S  BUBGLAR. 

she  said  nothing  more,  and  she  even  said 
nothing  all  through  the  excitement  that  fol- 
lowed the  discovery  of  the  robbery,  and,  indeed, 
said  nothing  until  her  papa  came  home,  and 
then  he  wondered  so  at  her  pale  face,  and 
petted  her  so  tenderly,  and  thought  it  so 
strange  that  nothing  but  her  treasures  had  been 
taken  from  up-stairs,  that  she  could  keep  her 
secret  no  longer. 

"  Papa,"  she  cried  out,  all  at  once,  in  a  trem- 
bling voice,  "  I  gave  them  to  him  myself." 

"  You,  Nixie !  You !  "  exclaimed  her  papa, 
looking  alarmed.  "  Kitty,  the  fright  has  made 
the  poor  little  thing  ill." 

"No,  p?</pa,"  said  Editha,  her  hands  shaking, 
and  the  tears  rushing  into  her  eyes,  she  did  not 
know  why.  "I  heard  him,  and  —  I  knew 
mamma  would  be  so  frightened,  —  and  it  came 
into  my  mind  to  ask  him — not  to  awaken  her, — 
and  I  crept  down-stairs  —  and  asked  him ;  —  and 
he  was  not  at  all  unkind,  though  he  laughed. 
And  I  stayed  with  him,  and  —  and  told  him  I 
would  give  him  all  my  things  if  he  would  not 
touch   yours   nor   mamma's.     He  —  he   wasn't 


■  TO  THINK  OF  HER  RISKING  HER  DEAR  LITTLE  LIFE  TO  SAVE  M£.n 


/ 


EDITHAS  BURGLAR.  59 

auch  a  bad  burglar,  papa,  —  and  he  told  me  he 
would  rather  be  something  more  respectable." 

And  she  hid  her  face  on  her  papa's  shoulder, 

"  Kitty  !  "  papa  cried  out.     "  Oh,  Kitty  !  " 

Then  her  mamma  flew  to  her  and  knelt  down 
by  her,  kissing  her,  and  crying  aloud: 

"  Oh,  Nixie  !  if  he  had  hurt  you,  —  if  he  had 
hurt  you !  " 

"  He  knew  I  was  not  going  to  scream, 
mamma,"  said  Editha.  "  And  he  knew  I  was 
too  little  too  hurt  him.     I  told  him  so." 

She  scarcely  understood  why  mamma  cried 
so  much  more  at  this,  and  why  even  papa's 
eyes  were  wet  as  he  held  her  close  up  to  his 
breast. 

"  It  is  my  fault,  Francis,"  wept  the  poor  little 
mamma.  "  I  have  left  her  too  much  to  herself, 
and  I  have  not  been  a  wise  mother.  Oh,  to 
think  of  her  risking  her  dear  little  life  just 
to  save  me  from  being  frightened,  and  to 
think  of  her  giving  up  the  things  she  loves 
for  our  sakes.  I  will  be  a  better  mother  to 
her,  after  this,  and  take  care  of  her  more." 

But  I  am  happy  to  say  that  the  watch,  and 


60  EDITH  AS  BURGLAR. 

locket,  and  pearls  were  not  altogether  lost, 
and  came  back  to  their  gentle  little  owner  in 
time.  About  six  months  after,  the  burglar  was 
caught,  as  burglars  are  apt  to  be,  and,  after 
being  tried  and  sentenced  to  transportation  to 
the  penal  settlements  (which  means  that  he  was 
to  be  sent  away  to  be  a  prisoner  in  a  far  coun- 
try), a  police  officer  came  one  day  to  see  Editha's 
papa,  and  he  actually  came  from  that  burglar, 
who  was  in  jail,  and  wanted  to  see  Editha  for 
a  special  reason.  Editha's  papa  took  her  to  see 
him,  and  the  moment  she  entered  his  cell  she 
knew  him. 

"  How  do  you  do,  my  lord  ?  "  she  said,  in  a 
gentle  tone. 

"Not  as  lively  as  common,  miss,"  he  an- 
swered, "in  consekence  o'  the  confinement  not 
bein    good  fer  my  'e'lth." 

"None  of  your  chaff,"  said  the  police  officer. 
"  Say  what  you  have  to  say." 

And  then,  strange  to  say,  the  burglar  brought 
forth  from  under  his  mattress  a  box,  which  he 
handed  to  the  little  girl. 

"  One  o'  my  wisitors  brought  'em  in  to  me 


TB&  BUfOLAK  BROUGHT  FROM  UNDER  HIS  MATTRESS  A  BOX 
WHICH  HE  HANDED  TO  THE  LITTLE  GIRL. 


EDITH A* S  BUBGLAB.  bd 

this  mornin',"  he  said.  "  I  thought  yer  might 
as  well  have  'em.  I  kep'  'em  partly  'cos  it 
was  more  convenienter,  an'  partly  'cos  I  took 
a  fancy  to  yer.  I've  seed  a  many  curi's  things, 
sir,"  he  said  to  Editha's  papa,  "but  never  nothin' 
as  bloomin'  queer  as  that  little  kid  a-comin'  in 
an'  tellin'  me  she  won't  'urt  me,  nor  yet  won't 
scream,  and  please  won't  I  burgle  quietly  so  as 
not  to  disturb  her  mar.  It  brought  my  'art  in 
my  mouth  when  first  I  see  her,  an'  then,  lor', 
how  I  larft !  I  almost  made  up  my  mind  co 
give  her  things  back  to  her  afore  I  left,  but 
I  didn't  quite  do  that,  —  it  was  agin  human 
natur'." 

But  they  were  in  the  box  now,  and  Editha 
was  so  glad  to  see  them  that  she  could  scarcely 
speak  for  a  few  seconds.  Then  she  thanked  the 
burglar  politely. 

"  I  am  much  obliged  to  you,"  she  said,  "  and 
I'm  really  very  sorry  you  are  to  be  sent 
so  far  away.  I  am  sure  papa  would  have 
tried  to  help  you  if  he  could,  though  he 
says  he  is  afraid  you  would  not  do  for  an 
editor." 


64  EDITHA1  S  BXTRGLAB. 

The  burglar  closed  one  eye,  and  made  a  very 
singular  grimace  at  the  police  officer,  who  turned 
away  suddenly,  and  did  not  look  around  until 
Editha  had  bidden  her  acquaintance  good-bye. 

And  even  this  was  not  quite  all.  A  few 
weeks  later,  a  box  was  left  for  Editha  by  a 
very  shabby,  queer-looking  man,  who  quickly 
disappeared  as  soon  as  he  had  given  it  to  the 
servant  at  the  door ;  and  in  this  box  was  a 
very  large,  old-fashioned  silver  watch,  almost 
as  big  as  a  turnip,  and  inside  the  lid  were 
scratched  these  words : 

To  the  little  Kid, 
From  'er  fr'end  and  wel'  wisher, 
Lord  halgernon  hedward  halbert 

de  pentonwill,  ide  park. 


■I?p 


THE  LITTLE  COLONEL  STORY 
HOUR  BOOKS 

By  ANNIE  FELLOWS   JOHNSTON 

Each  thin  12mo,  cloth  decorative,  per  volume  .    .    .    .    $1.00 

THE    LITTLE    COLONEL    (Trade  Mark) 

The  scene  of  this  story  is  laid  in  Kentucky.  Its  heroine 
is  a  small  girl,  who  is  known  as  the  Little  Colonel,  on  account 
of  her  fancied  resemblance  to  an  old-school  Southern  gentle- 
man, whose  fine  estate  and  old  family  are  famous  in  the 
region. 

"Mrs.  Johnston  is  a  faithful  interpreter  of  child  life." 
—  Chicago  Daily  News. 

THE  GIANT  SCISSORS 

This  is  the  story  of  Joyce  and  of  her  adventures  in  France. 
Joyce  is  a  great  friend  of  the  Little  Colonel,  and  in  later 
volumes  shares  with  her  the  delightful  experiences  of  the 
"House  Party"  and  the  "Holidays." 

"Its  simple  language  and  fine  sentiment  will  charm  every 
reader."  —  Pittsburgh  Gazette. 

TWO  LITTLE  KNIGHTS   OF  KENTUCKY 

Who  Were  the  Little  Colonel's  Neighbors. 

In  this  volume  the  Little  Colonel  returns  to  us  like  an  old 
friend,  but  with  added  grace  and  charm.  She  is  not,  however, 
the  central  figure  of  the  story,  that  place  being  taken  by  the 
"two  little  kinghts." 

"The  truest  portrayals  of  child  life  ever  written."  — 
Chicago  Record-Herald. 

MILDRED'S  INHERITANCE 

A  delightful  little  story  of  a  lonely  English  girl  who  comes 
to  America  and  is  befriended  by  a  sympathetic  American 
family  who  are  attracted  by  her  beautiful  speaking  voice. 
B— 1 


TEE  PAGE  COMPANY'S 


By  ANNIE  FELLOWS  JOHNSTON  (Continued) 

CICELY  AND  OTHER  STORIES  FOR  GIRLS 

The  readers  of  Mrs.  Johnston's  charming  juveniles  will  be 
glad  to  learn  of  the  issue  of  this  volume  for  young  people. 

AUNT  'LIZA'S  HERO  AND  OTHER  STORIES 

A  collection  of  six  bright  little  stories,  which  will  appeal  to 
all  boys  and  most  girls. 

BIG  BROTHER 

A  story  of  two  boys.  The  devotion  and  care  of  Stephen, 
himself  a  small  boy,  for  his  baby  brother,  is  the  theme  of  the 
simple  tale. 

OLE  MAMMY'S  TORMENT 

"Ole  Mammy's  Torment"  has  been  fitly  called  "a  classic 
of  Southern  life."  It  relates  the  haps  and  mishaps  of  a  small 
negro  lad,  and  tells  how  he  was  led  by  love  and  kindness  to  a 
knowledge  of  the  right. 

THE   STORY  OF  DAGO 

In  this  story  Mrs.  Johnston  relates  the  story  of  Dago,  a 
pet  monkey,  owned  jointly  by  two  brothers.  Dago  tells  his 
own  story,  and  the  account  of  his  Haps  and  mishaps  is  both 
interesting  and  amusing. 

THE   QUILT  THAT   JACK  BUILT 

A  pleasant  little  story  of  a  boy's  labor  of  love,  and  how  it 
changed  the  course  of  his  life  many  years  after  it  was  accom- 
plished. 

FLIP'S  ISLANDS   OF  PROVIDENCE 

A  story  of  a  boy's  life  battle,  his  early  defeat,  and  his  final 
triumph,  well  worth  the  reading. 
B— 2 


BOOKS  FOR   YOUNG  PEOPLE 


OUR  YOUNG  FOLKS'   ANIMAL  LIBRARY 

By  Charles  G.  D.  Roberts. 

Each    one    volume,    16mo,    cloth    decorative,    illustrated, 

per  volume $0 .  75 

The  six  volumes  in  holiday  box,  complete  set    ...     4 .  50 

This  set  embraces  the  following  books: 

HAUNTERS    OF    THE    PINE    GLOOM.     A  Lynx 
Story. 

THE    KING  OF   THE   MAMOZEKEL.    A  Moose 
Story. 

LITTLE  PEOPLE  OF  THE  SYCAMORE.    A  Rac- 
coon Story. 

THE  RETURN  TO   THE  TRAILS.    A  Bear  Story. 

THE    WATCHERS    OF    THE    CAMP    FIRE.      A 
Panther  Story. 

THE  LORD   OF  THE  AIR.     An  Eagle  Story. 

A  splendid  set  of  the  famous  Roberts'  animal  stories,  the 
recognized  classics  in  this  field.  Each  illustrated  by  Charles 
Livingston  Bull,  the  animal  painter,  who  found  deep  inspira- 
tion in  Mr.  Roberts'  text.  Mr.  Bull  wrote:  "Nearly  every  one 
of  his  paragraphs  is  a  splendid  word  picture.  One  can  feel 
the  very  October  chill  in  the  air  as  one  reads  of  the  little  lakes 
in  the  forest  where  the  white  stallion  watched  the  wild  ducks 
migrating  and  the  caribou  filing  past.  .  .  .  Nowhere  in  al! 
literature  can  be  found  more  wonderfully  beautiful  descrip- 
tions." 
B— 3 


THE    PAGE    COMPANY'S 


THE  SANDMAN  SERIES 

Each  large  12mo,  cloth  decorative,  illustrated,  per 
volume      $1.75 

By  William  J.  Hopkins 
THE    SANDMAN:      His  Farm  Stories. 

"  Mothers  and  fathers  and  kind  elder  sisters  who  take 
the  little  ones  to  bed  and  rack  their  brains  for  stories 
will  find  this  book  a  treasure." —  Cleveland  Leader. 

THE    SANDMAN:      More  Farm  Stories. 

"  Children  will  call  for  these  stories  over  and  over 
again." —  Chicago  Evening  Post. 

THE    SANDMAN:      His  Ship  Stories. 

-  Little  ones  will  understand  and  delight  in  the  stories 
and  their  parents  will  read  between  the  lines  and  recog- 
nize the  poetic  and  artistic  work  of  the  author." — 
Indianapolis  News. 

THE    SANDMAN:      His  Sea  Stories. 

"  Once  upon  a  time  there  was  a  man  who  knew  little 
children  and  the  kind  of  stories  they  liked,  so  he  wrote 
four  books  of  Sandman's  stories,  all  about  the  farm  or 
the  sea,  and  the  brig  Industry,  and  this  book  is  one  of 
them." —  Canadian  Congregationalist. 

By  Jenny  Wallis 

THE    SANDMAN:      His  Songs  and  Rhymes. 

"  Here  is  a  fine  collection  of  poems  for  mothers  and 
friends  to  use  at  the  twilight  hour.  They  are  not  of  the 
soporific  kind  especially.  They  are  wholesome  reading 
when  most  wide-awake  and  of  such  a  soothing  and  de- 
licious flavor  that  they  are  welcome  when  the  lights  are 
low." —  Christian  Intelligencer. 

By  Helen  I.  Castella 

THE   SANDMAN:    His  Fairy  Stories. 

This  time  the  Sandman  comes  in  person,  and  takes 
little  Joyce,  who  believes  in  him,  to  the  wonderful  land 
of  Nod.  There  they  procure  pots  and  pans  from  the 
pansy  bed,  a  goose  from  the  gooseberry  bush,  a  chick 
from  the  chickweed,  corn  from  the  cornflower,  and  eat 
on  a  box  from  the  boxwood  hedge.  They  have  almost 
as  many  adventures  as  Alice  in  Wonderland. 
B— 4 


BOOKS  FOR   YOUNG  PEOPLE 


THE  SANDMAN  SERIES 

(continued) 

By  Harry  W.  Frees 

THE    SANDMAN :  His  Animal  Stories. 

"The  simplicity  of  the  stories  and  the  fascinating  manner 
in  which  they  are  written  make  them  an  excellent  night-cap 
for  the  youngster  who  is  easily  excited  into  wakefulness."  — 
Pittsburgh  Leader. 

THE    SANDMAN:  His  Kittycat  Stories. 

"The  Sandman  is  a  wonderful  fellow.  First  he  told  farm 
stories,  then  ship  stories,  then  sea  stories.  And  now  he  tells 
stories  about  the  kittens  and  the  fun  they  had  in  Kittycat 
Town.  A  strange  thing  about  these  kittens  is  the  ability  to 
talk,  work  and  play  like  boys  and  girls,  and  that  is  why  all  of 
the  little  tots  will  like  the  Sandman's  book."  —  Pittsburgh 
Chronicle  Telegraph. 

THE    SANDMAN:  His  Bunny  Stories. 

"The  whole  book  is  filled  with  one  tale  after  another  and  is 
narrated  in  such  a  pleasing  manner  as  to  reach  the  heart  of 
every  child."  —  Common  Sense,  Chicago. 

THE    SANDMAN:  His  Puppy  Stories. 

Another  volume  of  Mr.  Frees'  inimitable  stories  for  tiny 
tots,  this  time  about  the  "doggie  mothers  who  lived  with 
their  puppies"  on  the  other  side  of  Kitty-way  lane  in  Animal 
Land.  The  illustrations  are  from  photographs  posed  by  the 
author  with  the  same  appeal  which  has  characterized  his 
previous  pictures. 

By  W.  S.  Phillips 
(El  Comancho) 
THE    SANDMAN:  His  Indian  Stories. 

The  Indian  tales  for  this  Celebrated  Series  of  Children's 
Bedtime  Stories  have  been  written  by  a  man  who  has  Indian 
blood,  who  spent  years  of  his  life  among  the  Redmen,  in  one 
of  the  tribes  of  which  he  is  an  honored  member,  and  who  is  an 
expert  interpreter  of  the  Indian  viewpoint  and  a  practised 
authority  on  Indians  as  well  as  a  master  teller  of  tales. 
B— 5 


THE  PAGE  COMPANrS 


WELL-KNOWN  CLASSICS 

A  carefully  selected  group  of  stories  that  are  known  and 
loved  by  all  children. 

Each  thin  12mo,  cloth,  illustrated,  per  volume      .    .    $0.90 
THE  KING   OF   THE   GOLDEN   RIVER 
By  John  Ruskin. 
This  little  fairy  tale  should  be  found  in  every  juvenile 
library. 

THE  ADVENTURES   OF  A  BROWNIE 
By  Miss  Mulock. 
The  story  of  a  household  elf. 
THE  LITTLE  LAME  PRINCE 
By  Miss  Mulock. 
A  delightful  story  of  a  little  boy  who  has  many  adventures. 
A  DOG   OF  FLANDERS 

By  "Ouida"  (Louise  de  la  Ramee). 
This  little  story  is  considered  to  be  "Ouida's"  masterpiece. 
A  LITTLE  DAUGHTER  OF  LIBERTY 
By  Edith  Robinson. 
The  ride  of  Anthony  Severn  was  no  less  historic  in  its  action  or 
memorable  in  its  consequences  than  was  that  of  Paul  Revere. 
THE   LITTLEST   ONE   OF   THE   BROWNS 
By  Sophie  Swett. 
"The  Littlest  One  of  the  Browns"  is  both  daintiest  and 
charming. 

Annotated  Editions 

Splendidly  annotated  editions  of  the  following  have  been 
carefully  prepared  by  Thomas  Tapper,  Litt.D.: 
THE  YOUNG   FOLKS'   BROWNING 

"Here  is  the  best  possible  introduction  to  Browning  for 
boys  and  girls  —  a  stepping  stone  to  the  study  and  love  of 
his  wonderful  work."  —  Arkansas  Democrat,  Little  Rock,  Ark. 
THE  MAN  WITHOUT  A   COUNTRY 
By  Edward  Everett  Hale. 

This  remarkable  story  presents  perhaps  the  greatest  lesson 
in  patriotism  and  love  of  country  that  was  ever  penned. 
A   CHILD'S   GARDEN   OF  VERSES 
By  Robert  Louis  Stevenson. 

A  modern  and  beautifully  prepared  version  of  this  exquisite 
child  classic. 
B— 6 


BOOKS  FOR    YOUNG  PEOPLE 


COSY  CORNER  SERIES 

Each  16mo,  cloth  decorative,  per  volume $0.75 

By   CAROLINE  E.   JACOBS 

BAB'S   CHRISTMAS   AT   STANHOPE 

The  story  of  Bab,  a  little  girl,  who  is  obliged  to  spend 
Christmas  away  from  home  with  three  maiden  great-aunts. 

THE   CHRISTMAS   SURPRISE  PARTY 

"The  book  is  written  with  brisk  and  deft  cleverness."  — 
New  York  Sun. 

A  CHRISTMAS  PROMISE 

A  tender  and  appealing  little  story. 

By  CHARLES  DICKENS 
A  CHRISTMAS   CAROL 

No  introduction  is  needed  to  Dickens'  masterpiece,  which 
so  wonderfully  portrays  the  Christmas  spirit. 

A  CHILD'S  DREAM   OF  A  STAR 

One  of  those  beautiful,  fanciful  little  allegories  which 
Dickens  alone  knew  how  to  write. 

By  OVID  A  (Louise  de  la  Ramee) 

THE  NURNBERG   STOVE 

This  beautiful  story  has  never  before  been  published  at  a 
popular  price. 

THE  LITTLE  EARL 

"Boy  and  girl  readers  will  find  entertainment  in  the  story, 
which  is  cleverly  and  skilfully  written."  —  Boston  Transcript. 
B— 7 


TEE  PAGE  COMPANY'S 


By  MISS  MULOCK 
HIS  LITTLE  MOTHER 

Miss  Mulock's  short  stories  for  children  are  a  constant 
source  of  delight  to  them,  and  "His  Little  Mother,"  in  this 
new  and  attractive  dress,  will  be  welcomed  by  hosts  of  youth- 
ful readers. 

LITTLE   SUNSHINE'S  HOLIDAY 

An  attractive  story  of  a  summer  outing.  "Little  Sunshine" 
is  another  of  those  beautiful  child-characters  for  which  Miss 
Mulock  is  so  justly  famous. 

By  WILL  ALLEN  DROMGOOLE 
THE  FARRIER'S  DOG  AND  HIS  FELLOW 

This  story  will  appeal  to  all  that  is  best  in  the  natures  of 
the  many  admirers  of  her  graceful  and  piquant  style. 

THE  FORTUNES   OF  THE  FELLOW 

Those  who  read  and  enjoyed  "The  Farrier's  Dog  and  His 
Fellow"  will  welcome  the  further  account  of  the  adventures 
of  Baydaw  and  the  Fellow. 

THE   BEST   OF  FRIENDS 

This  story  continues  the  experiences  of  the  Farrier's  dog 
and  His  Fellow. 

DOWN   IN   DIXIE 

A  fascinating  story  of  a  family  of  Alabama  children  who 
move  to  Florida  and  grow  up  in  the  South. 

By  JULIANA   HORATIA   EWING 

THE   STORY   OF  A   SHORT  LIFE 

This  beautiful  and  pathetic  story  will  never  grow  old.  It 
is  a  part  of  the  world's  literature,  and  will  never  die. 

JACKANAPES 

A  new  edition,  with  new  illustrations,  of  this  exquisite  and 
touching  story,  dear  alike  to  young  and  old. 
B— 8 


BOOKS  FOR   YOUNG  PEOPLE 


By  FRANCES  MARGARET  FOX 
THE  LITTLE  GIANTS  NEIGHBOURS 

A  charming  nature  story  of  a  "little  giant"  whose  neighbors 
were  the  creatures  of  the  field  and  garden. 

FARMER  BROWN  AND   THE  BIRDS 

A  little  story  which  teaches  children  that  the  birds  are 
man's  best  friends. 

BETTY  OF  OLD  MACKINAW 

A  charming  story  of  child  life. 

BROTHER  BILLY 

The  story  of  Betty's  brother,  and  some  further  adventures 
of  Betty  herself. 

HOW  CHRISTMAS   CAME  TO   THE  MUL- 
VANEYS 

A  bright,  lifelike  little  story  of  a  family  of  poor  children 
with  an  unlimited  capacity  for  fun  and  mischief. 

THE   COUNTRY   CHRISTMAS 

Miss  Fox  has  vividly  described  the  happy  surprises  that 
made  the  occasion  so  memorable  to  the  Mulvaneys. 

SEVEN  LITTLE  WISE  MEN 

A  beautiful  little  Christmas  story,  told  in  Miss  Fox's  hap- 
piest manner. 

By  EDITH  ROBINSON 
A  LOYAL  LITTLE  MAID 

A  delightful  and  interesting  story  of  Revolutionary  days. 

A  LITTLE  PURITAN  REBEL 

This  is  an  historical  tale  of  a  real  girl,  when  the  gallant 
Sir  Harry  Vane  was  governor  of  Massachusetts. 

A  LITTLE  PURITAN  BOUND  GIRL 

A  story  of  Boston  in  Puritan  days. 
B— 9 


BOOKS  FOR  YOUNG  PEOPLE 


By  OTHER  AUTHORS 

EDITHA'S   BURGLAR 

By  Fraxces  Hodgsox  Bttrxett. 

The  most  successful  story  that  this  popular  author  has 
ever  written. 

THE   PINEBORO  QUARTETTE 

By  Willis  Boyd  Allex. 

The  story  of  how  four  persevering  and  ambitious  young 
folks,  left  penniless,  make  their  way  in  the  world. 

RAB   AND   HIS   FRIENDS 

By  Dr.  John  Browx. 

An  old  favorite  that  never  loses  its  interest. 

ROSEMARY 

By  Alice  E.  Allex. 

A  delightful  story  of  how  little  twin  girls,  who  look 
exactly  alike,  puzzle  their  schoolmates  for  an  entire  year. 

THE   DOLE   TWINS 

By  Kate  Upsox  Clark. 

A  story  of  child  lfe  in  New  England  in  1807. 

JOHN   WHOPPER,  THE   NEWSBOY 

By  Bishop  Thomas  M.  Clark. 

The  strange  adventures   of  a  lad  who  reached  China 
through  the  centre  of  the  Earth. 

THE   GREAT  SCOOP 

By  Molly  Elliot  Sea  well. 
A  story  of  Journalism. 

THE  LITTLE  RHYMER 

By  Nell  Thorxtox. 

Quaint  verses,  with  pictures,  for  the  little  tot. 
B— 10 


Selections  from 

The  Page  Company's 

Books  for  Young  People 


THE  BLUE  BONNET  SERIES 

Each  large  12mo,  cloth   decorative,  illustrated, 

per  volume        .......      $1.75 

A  TEXAS  BLUE  BONNET 

By  Caroline  E.  Jacobs. 

"  The  book's  heroine,  Blue  Bonnet,  has  the  very  finest 
kind  of  wholesome,  honest,  lively  girlishness."  —  Chicago 
Inter-Ocean. 

BLUE  BONNET'S  RANCH  PARTY 

By  Caroline  E.  Jacobs  and  Edyth  Ellerbeck  Read. 
"  A  healthy,  natural  atmosphere  breathes  ■  from  every 
chapter." — Boston  Transcript. 

BLUE  BONNET  IN  BOSTON 

By  Caroline  E.  Jacobs  and  Lela  Horn  Richards. 
"  It  is  bound  to  become  popular  because  of  its  whole- 
someness  and  its  many  human  touches."  —  Boston  Globe. 

BLUE  BONNET  KEEPS  HOUSE 

By  Caroline  E.  Jacobs  and  Lela  Horn  Richards. 
"  It  cannot  fail  to  prove  fascinating  to  girls  in  their 
teens."  —  New  York  Sun. 

BLUE  BONNET  — DEBUTANTE 

By  Lela  Horn  Richards. 

An  interesting  picture  of  the  unfolding  of  life  for 
Blue  Bonnet. 

BLUE  BONNET  OF  THE  SEVEN  STARS 

By  Lela  Horn  Richards. 

"  The  author's  intimate  detail  and  charm  of  narration 
gives  the  reader  an  interesting  story  of  the  heroine's  war 
activities."  —  Pittsburgh  Leader. 
A  — 1 


THE  PAGE  COMPANY'S 


ONLY  HENRIETTA 

By  Lela  Horn  Richards. 

Cloth  decorative,  12mo,  illustrated $1.90 

"  It  is  an  inspiring  story  of  the  unfolding  of  life  for  a 
young  girl — a  story  in  which  there  is  plenty  of  action 
to  hold  interest  and  wealth  of  delicate  sympathy  and 
understanding  that  appeals  to  the  hearts  of  young  and 
old." — Pittsburgh  Leader. 

HENRIETTA'S   INHERITANCE:   A   Sequel  to 

"Only  Henrietta" 

By  Lela  Horn  Richards. 

Cloth  decorative,  12mo,  illustrated $1.90 

"  One  of  the  most  noteworthy  stories  for  girls  issued 
this  season.  The  life  of  Henrietta  is  made  very  real, 
and  there  is  enough  incident  in  the  narrative  to  balance 
the  delightful   characterization." — Providence   Journal. 

"  The  heroine  deserves  to  have  this  story  develop  into 
a  series  of  books;  a  wholesome,  sparkling,  satisfying 
story  of  American  girlhood." — New  Era  Magazine. 

THE  YOUNG  KNIGHT 

By  I.  M.  B.  of  K. 

Cloth  decorative,  12mo,  illustrated $1.65 

The  clash  of  broad-sword  on  buckler,  the  twanging 
of  bow-strings  and  the  cracking  of  spears  splintered  by 
whirling  maces  resound  through  this  stirring  tale  of 
knightly  daring-do. 

Michael  Faversham,  orphaned  nephew  of  Sir  Gilbert 
Faversham,  is  a  wholesomely  mischievous  lad  who 
nevertheless  has  the  beautiful  faith  and  love  for  the 
Saviour  so  characteristic  of  the  early  sixteenth  century 
Christians.  How  he  saves  the  fortress  of  Rhodes  from 
the  besieging  Turks,  is  later  betrayed,  captured  and 
tortured  by  them  in  the  hope  that  he  may  be  made  to 
turn  traitor  and  apostate,  and  his  triumphant  escape 
from  the  hands  of  the  Infidels — all  these  will  delight 
the  sturdy  hearts  of  the  present-day  American  boy. 
A— 2 


